Google develops digital tools for media

February 25, 2014 00:00
By Asina Pornwasin
The Nation

Google for Media Group was established last October to inspire journalists and producers to make the most of Google's digital tools by providing timely examples in the news and steering the media to tutorials, new features and products.

The tools can enhance news gathering and exposure across television, radio, print and online media. They are included in Google Search.

The Google for Media Team from the United State travels around the world to hold workshops with the media in several countries. It is in Southeast Asia this month with stops in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Last week, Nicolas Whitaker and Vanessa Schneider helped organise the workshop for media in Thailand, including Nation Multimedia Group.

“We know how busy journalists are, and how hard it can be to carve out time to learn new skills. Our goal is a simple one – education,” Whitaker said.

“There are many free and easy to use tools available, so we are providing these trainings as a way to introduce journalists to a wide range of tools that they can use to speed up their workflow, and give them access to information quickly and efficiently, letting technology do a lot of the heavy lifting for them, so they can focus on the story.

“Beyond these trainings they can learn more from our site at google.com/mediatools.”

Before joining Google in 2010, Whitaker spent a decade producing, directing, editing and shooting videos and still images for news, commercial, entertainment and advocacy media.

He was also a professor at Eugene Lang College’s New School for Liberal Arts and at Marymount Manhattan College, teaching video production, new media and media theory.

The tools can enhance news gathering and exposure across television, radio, print and online media. They are included in Google Search.

The Google for Media Team from the United State travels around the world to hold workshops with the media in several countries. It is in Southeast Asia this month with stops in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Last week, Nicolas Whitaker and Vanessa Schneider helped organise the workshop for media in Thailand, including Nation Multimedia Group.

“We know how busy journalists are, and how hard it can be to carve out time to learn new skills. Our goal is a simple one – education,” Whitaker said.

“There are many free and easy to use tools available, so we are providing these trainings as a way to introduce journalists to a wide range of tools that they can use to speed up their workflow, and give them access to information quickly and efficiently, letting technology do a lot of the heavy lifting for them, so they can focus on the story.

“Beyond these trainings they can learn more from our site at google.com/mediatools.”

Before joining Google in 2010, Whitaker spent a decade producing, directing, editing and shooting videos and still images for news, commercial, entertainment and advocacy media.

He was also a professor at Eugene Lang College’s New School for Liberal Arts and at Marymount Manhattan College, teaching video production, new media and media theory.